Planter.



N0. 636,659. Patented Nov. 7, |899. E. H. GRIM.

PLANTES.

(Application tiled Sept. 8, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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31a/oe oz Patented Nov. 7, |899.

E. H, GRIM.

P L A N T E R (Application led Sept. 8, A1898,)

2- Sheets-Sheet 2.

ENo Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE,

PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,659, dated November7, 1899. Application filed September 8, 1898. Serial No. 690,484. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. GRIM, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Radford, in the county of Montgomery, State-ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it ap- A pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to planters, and has for its object to provide amachine which will be entirely automatic in its operation, which willsimultaneously plant one or more kinds of seed and will at the same timedeposit fertili'zer, and, moreover, may be readily regulated to drop therequired amount of fertilizer and seed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine of the classmentioned which will be self-marking and which may be arranged to drillany distance desired.

A final object of my invention is to provide a machine which will beadapted to check corn without the aid of any exterior agentsuch as theusual knotted cord, wire, &c.- and which, moreover, may be altered tocheck or not, as desired.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure l is a plan view of my complete machine. Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of my machine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my machine. Fig.4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, looking to the right. Fig. 5 is asection on line 5 5 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring now to the drawings, in operating in accordance with myinvention I provide a frame comprising sides a and b and front c andback d, upon the lower sides of w-hich side pieces is journaled arevoluble axle e, having ixed thereto, approximately at its middlepoint, a drum f, having perforations g for a purpose as will bepresently explained. Arranged upon each end of the axle c and connectedthereto through the med-ium of a ratchet h, of ordinary construction, isa wheel z', said ratchets being arranged to turn `the axle with thewheels when the latter are moving in a forward direction. Thus when themachine is turned at the end of a row upon one wheel as a pivot the axlewill remain stationary and the mechanism of the .machine hereinafterdescribed will lie dormant.

Running longitudinally of the frame of the machine is a seat-board j,carrying the usual seat and standard 7c for the operator.

Transversely of the frame of the machine is arranged a base-board l,upon which are arranged hoppers m. The base-board Z is adapted to bemoved forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, and for this purpose theends thereof lie within slideways l', secured to the side pieceso and bof the frame.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, in order to shift the base-board,as above mentioned, I pivot thereto at o. a lever b', having pivotalconnection at c with a block d upon the seat-board j. A notched segmente", secured to the block d', is adapted to receive a spring-pressed boltf', carried by the lever and adapt-ed to be raised out of engagementwith the segment by means of a trigger of the usual form. Thus it willbe seen that when the lever b is moved forwardly the base-board will bemoved rearwardly, together with the mechanism carried thereby.

The hoppers m are each formed in two partsa major part g' and a minorpart 7t-which said parts are themselves each divided by verticalpartitions into compartments n, 0, p, n', o', and p', respectively.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 43 and of the drawings,extending downwardly from each compartment of each main hopper part g isa throat r, into which the main and secondary compartments empty, thelower end of the throat terminating in a deliverytube s, as shown, whichenters a boot directly under the axle e. The boot t is secured to adrag-bar u, pivoted at its forward end to a brace o, depending from theframe of the machine, the rear end of which drag-bar is supported by aroller unwhich roller is journaled in the ends of arms pivotallyconnected to the drag-bar u, whereby the said roller may be swungforwardly or backwardly, and thus be raised or lowered with respect tothe lever, to allow the lever to approach or cause it to IOO recede fromthe ground, and thus raise or lower the boot t and adjacent partshereinafter described. In order to hold the roller w in its adjustedposition, I pivotally connect with the end of the axle y of the roller wa rod z, having perforations therein to receive a pin A, passed througha perforation in the drag-bar uf. Thus it will be seen that the pin,which may be in the form of a bolt, may be withdrawn and the rolleradjusted, after which it may be replaced and will hold the roller inposition. Inclosing the boot f, save for a space at the back, is ashield having an angular front edge, which shield is so located withrespect to the boot that it will escape the edges of the furrow andprevent foreign matter striking the boot and displacing or otherwiseinjuring its operation. Secured to the guard at the edges of the rearopening thereof and extending downwardly therefrom are coverers B,pointed at their lower ends and arranged atan angle to the direction ofmotion of the machine and positioned to enter the earth at the sides ofthe furrow and as the machine moves forward to shove the dirt inwardlyand over the seeds that have passed from the hopper.

In order to insure proper planting of the seeds where the furrow isbroken and the earth is hard, or where from any other cause the seedscannot be properly placed, a lever C is pivotally connected with therear piece CZ of the frame, which lever is connected through the mediumof a link E with the rear portion of the drag-bar u. As shown in Fig. 2of the drawings, the drag-bar u is formed double or pronged, the bootbeing arranged between the two elements of the drag-bar, the rearendsofthe drag-bar inclosinga rigid guide E', depending from the rear piece dof the frame, to prevent lateral derangement of the drag-bar and themechanism carried thereby. A colter F, secured to the drag-bar u,extends downwardly at an angle in front of the boot t and affordsprotection for the tip of the boot, preventing the accumulation of grassor weeds thereon.

Referring now to the hoppers m, the divisions n, o, and p are eachprovided at their forward portions with a slanting ioor i. A slot 7n inthe horizontal floor m' of the compartment allows the contents of thesection to drop upon the extension of the licor-piece t" and thence intothe space therebelow. An opening 1n each compartment n, d, and p' leadsinto the throat of its corresponding division n, o, and p, respectively.Arranged in the throat of each hopper-division are two slides G and II,each having an opening therein and segarated by a slidable plate I, saidslides and plate moving through slots in the throat. In order to holdthe slides normally in such a position that their openings will lieoutside the throat and will allow no material to pass therethrough, Iarrange a spring J for each slide, the spring for the upper slide Grbeing secured at its upper end to the bottom of the hopper and thespring for the lower slide being secured at its base to the board l. Inorder to regulate the size of the space intermediate the slides G and IIwithin the throat, the plate I is provided. This plate I has a slot init, as shown at K, and by moving the plate inwardly the size of thespace is diminished. In order to hold the plate I in its adj ustedposition, a set-screw L is passed through the side of the throat andengages the plate. In order to operate the slides successively, firstthe top slide, to allow material to drop into the space K, and thenslide II, lto allow it to pass therefrom, I pivot to projections on theside of the throat a lever M, having its upper end pivotally connectedwith the upper slide G and its lower end curved downwardly andrearwardly and adapted to engage successively a series of pins N,carried by a drum O, arranged upon and to revolve with the axle e of themachine. In the drawings I have shown four of these pins N, although, aswill be readily understood, as many may be used as desired, openings Pbeing shown for the insertion of additional pins in the drum. A secondlever Q, pivoted also to the throat, has its upper end connected withthe lower slide I-I, its lower end being curved downwardly andrearwardly to engage pins R on the opposite side of the drum O. Thesepins are so located that the upper slide will be drawn and released toal- 'low material to enter the space K before the lower slide is drawnand released, as will be readily understood. It will be noted that thismechanism is duplicated in connection with the two hoppers and theircompartments and divisions.

In order to mark the furrows, that the seed may be plan ted regularlywithout the aid of a knotted cord or other usual measuring means, Isecure acleat o" to each wheel of the machine at intervals, which cleatsare the same in number as the operating-pins N and R and mark the earthregularly as the machine proceeds. Upon the spokes of the wheels,corresponding to the cleats r, are secured knockers s', which revolvewith the wheels and into whose path of rotation extends an extension Wof a valve V', pivoted within the throat and adapted when closed toprevent passage of material through the throat. Thus simultaneously withthe marking of the furrow by a cleat 1" a knocker s will strike theextension XV, opening the valve V and discharging the contents of thethroat into the furrow, the knockers operating subsequent to theoperation of the slide above.

Then it is, not desired to use the machine for checking, the valve andits cooperating mechanism may be omitted.

In order that the operator may have evidence of the operation of thehopper mechanism, I arrange within the boot, below the slides, a bell U,supported upon a bracket V,

IOO

IIO

directly under the mouth of the tube s to be struck by the dischargetherefrom and be thus sounded when the mechanism is in operation andmaterial is being properly discharged.

It will bel readily understood that I may varythe specific form andarrangement of my machine without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

In order to raise the wheels from the ground to insure their propermarking when retracking, I pivotally secure to each corner of themachine-frame and at the rear thereof a simple form of lifting-jackcomprising toggle-levers S and T, as shown, which when not in use may befolded up and over the frame to restin inoperative positions, as shownin Figs. 3 and 4. Thus it will be seen that by manipulation of the jacksthe inside wheel on a return trip may be revolved to cause one of itscleats to register with the mark at the end of the last trip and thatthe other wheel may be manipulated to assume a corresponding position,after which jacks may be raised out of the way and the machine driven tothe opposite end of the eld also, that should the operator byobservation discover that the inside wheel-cleats are not coincidingwith the marks made on the previous trip he may dismount and swing thewheels into proper positions. It will be further noted that when it isdesired to throw the levers M and Q out of operation with respect to thepins N it is only necessary to manipulate the shifting-lever b', throughthe medium of which the base-board is moved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In aplanting-machine, the combination with hoppers of throats leadingtherefrom, slides within the throats having openings therein, means forbringing said openings alternately into operative relation with thethroats to discharge material from the hopper, and alarms arranged toreceive the discharge from the hoppers.

2. In a planting-machine, the combination with hoppers of throatsleading therefrom, slides in each throat having each an opening therein,a lever connected with each slide, supporting-wheels for the machinehaving an axle rotatable therewith, drums carried byl the axle, and pinson said drums adapted to engage the levers.

3. In a planting-machine the combination with hoppers of throats leadingtherefrom, slides in each throat having each an opening, aleverconnected with each slide, supportingwheels for the machine having anaxle rotatable therewith, drums carried by the axle, said drums havingpins adapted to engage the said levers successively, a boot adapted toreceive the discharge from each hopper, a colter in advance of eachboot, coverers following the boots, and means for raising and loweringthe boots, the coverers and colters.

4. In a planting-machine, the combination with hoppers of throatsleading therefrom, slides in each th roat having each an opening, alever connected with each slide, supportingwheels for the machine havingan axle rotatable therewith, drums carried by the axle, said drumshaving pins adapted to engage 'said levers successively, boots adaptedto receive the discharge from the throats, levers supporting the boots,coverers following the boots and carried by the levers, colters inadvance of the boots, rollers adjustably connected with the levers,means for adjusting the rollers and means for adjusting the levers.

5. In a planting-machine adapted for automatic checking, the combinationof a frame having supporting-wheels, hoppers carried by the frame,throats leading from the hoppers, slides in the throats adapted to openand close the throats to permit passage of material therethrough,connections between said slides and the wheels for operating the slides,valves below the slides to prevent passage of the material from thethroats, knockers arranged to operate the valves, and cleats upon thewheels adapted to mark simultaneously with the operation of the valves.

6. In a planting-machine adapted for automatic checking, the combinationof a frame having supporting-wheels, which wheels are independentlymovable, hoppers carried by the frame, throats leading from the hoppers,slides in the throats adapted to open and close the throats to permitpassage of material therethrough, connections between said slides andwheels for operating` the slides, valves below the slides, knockersarranged to operate the valves, cleats upon the wheels adapted to marksimultaneously with the operation of the valves, and means for movingthe slides into and out of operation with the wheels.

7. In a planting-machine adapted for automatic checking, the combinationof a frame having au axle journaled therein, supportingwheels carried bythe axle and having ratchet connections therewith, hoppers carried bythe frame, throats leading from the hoppers, an upper and a lower slidewithin each throat, connections between the slides and the wheels foroperating the slides, a third slide intermediate'the upper and lowerslide adapted to vary the space therebetween, valves below the slides,knockers arranged to operate the valves, cleats upon the wheels adaptedto mark simultaneously with the operation of the valves, and means formoving the slides into and out of operative connection with the wheels.

8. In a planting-machine, the combination of a frame havingsupporting-wheels, hoppers carried by the frame, discharge apparatushaving operative connections with supporting-wheels carried by theframe, a throat leading from each hopper, a lever pivoted to the frame,a boot carried by the lever arranged to receive discharge from theadjacent throats and convey it to the furrow, a colter in ad- IOO IIO

IZO

Vaneo of each boot and secured to the lever, In testimony whereof I aixmy signature a ooverer in the rear of each boot, aroller adin presenceof two witnesses. justably connected with the lever and adapted ED WARDH GRIM to roll the furrow after engagement of the coverer, and means foroperating Iche lever Vitnesses:

to raise and lower the mechanism carried JOS. GRAHAM,J1'., thereby. E.C. BAIN.

